AZ-01: Renzi Will Not Seek Re-Election
Posted by Matt Ortega · August 23, 2007 · Comments (0)
Roll Call reported today that Congressman Rick Renzi (R-Flagstaff, Ariz.) said in a statement that he will not seek re-election in 2008, ending one of the most ethically clouded reigns in Congress. (Subscription required.)
“I will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008. I am honored and thankful to serve Arizona’s first district and appreciate all that we have accomplished together over the past 6 years.”
Renzi’s retirement announcement adds to a list of GOP Members planning to depart upon the conclusion of the 110th Congress, including Reps. Ray LaHood (Ill.), Deborah Pryce (Ohio) and Chip Pickering (Miss.), as well as former Speaker and Rep. Dennis Hastert (Ill.).
His decision not to run may help the Republicans’ chances in a district that barely remained in the GOP’s hands last year.
But while some of those retirements and the open seats they are creating could cause problems for the Republicans’ hopes of recapturing the majority, Renzi’s departure could help the GOP by allowing them to nominate a replacement that is free of the ethical baggage that appears to have ultimately undone the Congressman’s future.
Renzi staved off a spirited challenge from his Democratic challenger last cycle, but saw his political fortunes plummet following an FBI raid of a business connected to his family as part of a federal probe into his dealings as a Congressman.
Check with Blog for Arizona’s Michael Bryan on statewide reactions.
CA-11: McNerney “Setting the Record Straight on Iraq”
Posted by Matt Ortega · August 21, 2007 · Comments (0)
Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton, Calif.) wrote to supporters in an attempt to “set the record straight” regarding his position on the Iraq War. Babaloo, a leading voice at the blog that helped get McNerney elected — Say No to Pombo, wrote initial reactions as did Howie Klein.
Babaloo, who chastised McNerney in recent weeks over Iraq, came to this conclusion at the end of his/her post:
After wondering just what to make of McNerney’s confusing and seemingly contradictory positions over the last three weeks, it’s a relief to finally have a clear and concise statement of where Jerry McNerney stands on the Iraq occupation. I imagine that all his supporters are grateful for the clarification. If you’d like to comment directly to McNerney, you can post a comment at his blog.
McNerney, who campaigned on an anti-war platform, unsettled some in the grassroots with the Republicans in the district loading up their wagons to take back the seat next year.
Disclaimer: In the 2006 midterm elections, I served on staff with an independent-expenditure campaign tasked with defeating Jerry McNerney’s seven-term incumbent opponent, then-Congressman Richard Pombo (R-Tracy, Calif.).